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Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1028, 26 January 1882, Page 2

About ten days ago the news from Ojmaru flashed to us along the wires was that the harvesting in that district was in full swing, and that the yield was likely to be better than anticipated. One case was instanced where forty bushels to the acre were expected. The sanguine view we then entertained of this year’s harvest down South has been somewhat marred since our Southern exchanges have come to hand. We regret to learn that, according to the Otago Daily Times, “It seems now all but certain that the crops in the Northern parts of the Provincial District of Otago and in the Southern parts of Canterbury will be far below the average. The drought in the Oamaru district has been unprecedented even in that very dry climate, and in many places the grain is not a foot high and very thin. Wheat always suffers less from drought than oats, and we anticipate a particularly short crop of the latter cereal. We have no guide, of course, as to the area under crop, but from the unremunerative prices obtained for oats during the past two years, we do not imagine that the area sown would show any increase over last year. Considering that the yield, according to the official statistics, for last year showed a falling off of five million bushels as compared with 1880, and that there has been a very considerable export this season, it is reasonable to suppose that stocks in farmers’ hands must now be greatly reduced, and that after harvest we shall begin with a very small supply of old oats and a very deficient crop of the new. The indications, therefore, are in favor of a higher range of value, which can be the only compensation to the grower, and in most cases a very insufficient one, for a deficient crop. We fear any rain that now falls will not in any degree serve the more forward crops, though it may help the later ones. Every effort should bo made to get the statistics from the principal fanning districts published early this year, so that both the farmers and the dealers may have some accurate idea as to the probable range of prices. Usually some of the largest transactions take place before any satisfactory returns are to hand, and last year this was especially the case, because the statistics were only taken with the census in April. The farmers will need every penny they cau justly lay claim to in selling their grain, and they are all the more likely to fall into the hands of the Philistines on occouut of their necessitous position, with only half a crop in hand to meet their liabilities.” From what we hear many of the crops in this district have turned out very well. The yield of grass seed has been estimated at 40,000 bushels, but these figures are not thoroughly authenticated. One thing evident is that the supply of rye grass seed will fall far short of the demand. Some of the crops around Ormond suffered from the recent flooding of the Muhunga Creek, It is intended, by the

way, for the local Highway Board to apply to the County Council for assistance in the matter of preventing future overflows. Those who were fortunate enough to have successful yields of grain crop will, from the general indications going on around, realize fair prices. The wheat crop throughout the world is exciting much attention just now.